Short for Network Address Translation, NAT as specified in RFC 1631 is an Internet standard that enables a local-area network (LAN) to use one or more IP addresses for internal traffic and a second for external. A network NAT is commonly used by home users to allow multiple computers to easily connect to a broadband connection. NAT is also used to hide internet network addresses by using the single NAT address.Today there are two different variants of NAT used. NAPT which is short for Network Address Port Translation, NAPT and PAT which is short for Port Address Translation.

Also see: Network definitions, Proxy

Proxy server

A Proxy is a computer server or software program which is part of the gateway server or another computer that separates a local network from outside networks. A proxy server will generally cache all pages accessed through the network. When a page is accessed that is not in the proxy servers cache the proxy server will access the page using its own IP address cache the page and forward it to the user accessing that page.

Users who wish to setup a proxy at home or home office to be used to share a internet connection VIA modem or other internet connection may wish to consider any of the following products: